I know i'll probably get grief for this, but I haven't been able to get logged into the LS1 forum for some reason. Believe me i've tried....anyway. Being a fellow chevelle fan, and owning one, I hope someone will help me. I recently pulled the heads off of my 95 Z28, and am about to put it back together. The only thing i'm wondering is what is the best way to prime the engine before starting it back up? It's been down for about a year, so it's in need of a little lubing before starting. It's just that there's no way (that I know of) to spin the oil pump other than just cranking it over. Any ideas guys? Or should I just crank her over a few times with the starter until I get pressure?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

-Ben

You can actually turn it with a big screwdriver and get some oil pumping but not a lot.

I use the shaft of an old points style dist that I ground the top down to fit in my cordless drill.

You could do the same thing with a cheapo screwdriver by cutting the handle off now you have a primer for $4.95.

It only takes a few turns with a drill to get good pressure going.

Edit:

I just realized what motor your talking about I have no experience with those.

yeah that'ts the problem. you can't do that on these. There's no room, or a direct passage to the oil pump like there is in the older cars. It doesn't have a shaft style distributor, so i'm not sure how to go about doing this, and I don't want to fubar my engine when I go to start it back up.

Priming the oil pump has only been around for like 20 years before that they just fired it up or spun it like you said.

If you prefill the oil filter it should be almost an instant prime.

pull what ever supplies power to the coil/ coils so it wont start and just turn the engine over it will prime it as it turns wont it?

Alright, sounds good enough to me. I guess i'll just have to do that and hope it's all good, which it sounds like it should be. Thanks guys. Anyone mind if I end up asking a couple more questions about the car down the road of rebuilding?

I pulled apart a 327 that had sat for several years. The cylinder walls were dry but there was oil on the bearings. My cars sit all winter. In the spring I fill the float bowls with lawn mower gas/oil mix. I figure that gives the top end a bit of lube right at start up. I've been doing this for many years. If nothing else, it gives me a little peace of mind at startup and can't hurt.

Pull the plugs first before you turn the engine over. You'll get faster rotation and it'll be easier on the bottom end while its priming with no compression.

Thanks guys. I'll pull the plugs, fill the oil filter, and crank her over.